Today's Out Spotlight once bullied, fought back - not in the classroom but in the courtroom, and became a pioneer for the Safe Schools Movement. His now an activist for GLBT youth and anti-bullying. Today's Out Spotlight is Jamie Nabozny.
Jamie Nabzony was born October 14, 1975 in and raise in Ashland Wisconsin, a small town in northern Wisconsin on the south shore of Lake Superior. His life was changed drastically when he was targeted in middle school for being gay.
His four years of high school Nabozny was subjected to relentless antigay verbal and physical abuse by fellow students in Ashland. Students urinated on him, pretended to rape him during class and when they found him alone kicked him so many times in the stomach that he required surgery. Although he and his parents reported the bullying repeatedly, the school officials at one point told Nabozny that, because he was openly gay, he should expect it. Bullied so much Nabozny attempted suicide several times, dropped out of school and ultimately ran away.
"I was numb most of the time, and I had to be numb to make it through." He left the school, moved to Minnesota with his family, and passed the GED exam.
He wanted to make sure that other students didn’t go through the same kind of nightmare. He and his family sued school and the school district in 1995.
His lawsuit against the school was initially dismissed, Lambda Legal took over his case before a federal appeals court, which in 1996 issued the first judicial opinion in the nation’s history finding that a public school could be held accountable for not stopping antigay abuse. The appellate court, basing its ruling on the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution, allowed the lawsuit to go forward. The jury found the school liable for Nabozny’s injuries; the school district eventually agreed to a nearly $1 million settlement.
Jamie Nabozny was the very first student to successfully sue a school district for its failure to protect a student from anti-gay harassment and his 1995 lawsuit helped pioneer the Safe Schools Movement for GLBT students.
Around the time of the case, one of many studies of gay-identified students in public schools found them nearly seven times more likely to have been threatened or injured with a weapon at school and four times more likely to attempt suicide. After the victory, Lambda Legal launched a groundbreaking educational and litigation campaign in defense of youth that the National Education Association recognized with its Award for Creative Leadership in Civil Rights.
His story is now featured in a documentary and teaching kit produced by the Southern Poverty Law Center. "Bullied: A Student, a School and a Case that Made History," have been distributed to schools nationwide. Narrated by Jane Lynch, it is available free to any school.
He also submitted written testimony to Congress and has lobbied lawmakers about school safety for GLBT youth. Jamie Nabozny was honored for his pioneering efforts by Equality Forum, which recognized him with its 1997 National Role Model Award.
Nabozny continues to live in Minneapolis. He travels the country speaking to diverse audiences about his experience and the importance of safe schools.
"Kids are becoming a lot stronger, and with my case I hope they realize that they’re not alone."
40 comments:
Beard Showdown in Palm Springs
It was Battle of the Beards '11 (not to be confused with a pot luck at the Scientology Celebrity Centre) at the Palm Springs International Film Festival last night when Jakey Gyllenhaal and Ben Affleck stomped on the carpet with half faces full of follicles.
Ben Affleck is like a dusty blue tin of Royal Dansk cookies to me. He's totally the Royal Dansk of men. Something that looks sort of sweet on the outside and is always around, but I never pull out from the back of my kitchen cabinet to peck at even when I start to get the "I NEED SOMETHING WITH CORN SYRUP IN IT!!!" shakes. But even though Ben's beard looks like a vine of nostril hairs has jumped out of his nose and taken over his chin, it works on him. Like Oreo frosting on a butter cookie.
Ben still doesn't have this, though. And neither does Jakey, the dude who usually works and wears a beard LIKE NO OTHER. We should really all bow down for the field of snow-covered baby's breath covering the bottom half of Taylor Hackford's face. If Santa Claus got a Norelco for Christmas....
Wonderful Spotlight. Means a lot to me. I love the part of the trailer when someone says maybe you shouldn't be so openly gay. Well you don't have to be openly gay to be harrassed. You can be harrassed and bullied when you have no idea whether your straight or gay. I was harrassed in 2nd and 3rd grade. I had no idea what sexuality even was. I was harrassed in grade school and high school and somewhat in college. I am not an effemine man but I sometimes I think I created who I am in order just to survive because I couldn't take it anymore. I did survive but still feel the scars.
A lot of people are working very hard to try to stop the bullying that still goes on in schools. It is still there though. Kids are still killing themselves because they are so afraid and feel so lonely. I need to help more. We all need to help more. Thanks for the Spotlight SK.
Thanks to Jake and Austin for Brokeback and Prayers for Bobby. I wish Jake would come home.
Just passed Jake Gyllenhall and Busy Phillips at the Hollywood farmers market about 1 hour ago via Twitter for iPhone
TheycallmeAli
I really think one of the positive things that are happening today is some kids have the courage to come out. Kids who are afraid and feel alone have somewhere to turn and someone to relate to. I applaud kids like Graham Taylor of Michigan who went to bat for his teacher who was suspended from work for kicking a kid out of the classroom for making gay slurs. Bravo Graham.
This whole movement to combat bullying is great. Its too bad what had to occur to make it happen, but its great to see so many stepping up to give a positive image.
Hey PG, I called after the KC game in case you were watching, but got your voice mail. Give me a holler when you get a chance.
Jake looks a bit rough in some of the Palm Springs photos. Probably the time change and travel. Most of the time I think he is overdressed for events and should be more casual at his age, but this time he looks a bit under dressed.
Think is was really nice that Jake presented Natalie her award. They have been friends for so long, it's nice to see real friends do that for each other.
I am jumping into the baby pool early and saying that Natalie is going to have a boy, just from how she is starting too look.
There is one picture of them together when Jake is looking down more at the baby and it just looks like there's so much joy for her becoming a mom.
From what Jim Sheridan said about Jake being up with the baby - when they were making Brothers - you bet that Natalie got to see Jake in those early days first hand and all it curtails having a brand new little one.
I feel like I've lost 1/2 the day! I started nodding off before 2 and didn't wake up until 5. Good grief!!
Didn't miss much on the Chiefs game, lol.
**sigh**. This time I didn't miss the call because I couldn't reach my phone; usually that's the reason. I need to have my phone at my side.
I like how Jake is all dressed up but then he has the scuffed up, dusty looking shoes on. Why do he and Austin do that? lol
This spotlight is soooo sad but what a positive impact this guy is making by helping so many students out there.
I don't know why kids can be so mean to one another - no idea. It's just inhuman.
I'm so glad that school of his got sued.
This is funny. There's a bit on People.com on what Jake said about his "ex" (there's that claim again!) at the awards last night.
"Natalie is the Audrey Hepburn of our generation," the actor says, "She is elegant, graceful, has amazing eyebrows ... is talented, really short, funny, smart, dedicated, incredibly kind."
Has amazing eyebrows? Sounds like Jake has eyebrow envy. lol!
I'm trying to figure out just when Jake and Natalie had this big hot & heavy relationship. Usually "ex's" aren't so pal'sy wal'sy like Jake & Natalie are.
Where are all the pap pictures of the coffee and restaurant coming & going's? Where's the piggyback ride? Where's the shopping dates? Where's the handholding?
Come on, People & JustJared, cough it all up for us.
Oh my dog, Jake now on JustJared jogging!
http://justjared.buzznet.com/
Wow, it's almost like old times.
Boy's got some great looking gams. Love the short no-show socks.
The little 9 year old girl that died yesterday is Sophia Bush's second cousin
Yes, I knew that. That is really sad.
For anybody with or close to someone with cancer, watch THE BEAUTIFUL TRUTH and read about Dr. Max Gerson. 7 minutes ago via Twitter for BlackBerry®
I didn't know that the 9 year-old was related to Sophia. Such a tragedy, the whole thing just makes me sick at my stomach.
Yes, there are a lot of crazy people out there. But other so-called sane people's actions have consequences too. Palin putting that poor Congresswoman on her "cross-hairs" list for people that should go down. It just encourages and gives people the idea it is okay to kill like that.
People who lie and beard also encourage the haters out there by contributing to a belief that gays and lesbians are awful people, to be hidden away, and that contributes to kids believing it is okay to not only hate gays and lesbians, but to beat them and kill them.
You know, looking at Jake on JJ jogging and there are comments on there from fans not trusting Jake any longer after Jaylor, words I uttered myself just a couple of days ago so I fully understand and agree.
Jake has a lot of repairing to do. A lot.
And if he beards again, I don't know - I just see him as fading into the sunset.
But he can't come out unless Austin comes out. And Austin can't come out as long as he is still doing OTH. So it's like they're in this waiting mode.
Now if they come out together once they're both free of obligations, and Jake is honest in a big splash interview and acknowledges what he did by the lying, I think he could repair what's been done. I think people just want honesty and truth.
Jake's not an awful person. You hear Anne call him a nurturing person. Who's he nurturing with? You nurture someone who is younger than yourself, normally. Like a mentor. So who is Anne talking about?
I think Anne is talking about Jake with his kid(s). Anne has had to have seen Jake with his family - I think that's why she called him nurturing. So he can't be a horrible person.
I think it's a crime that we aren't allowed to see the real Jake anymore.
And he nor Austin can blame the bloggers for being angry and what they're saying. They can't because they don't know the truth. All they know is what they see - which are lies. So what do you expect?
PG, there is an ancient photo of Jake hiking with Natalie, and some buzz that they went on a few dates, all pre-Kiki.
Then there are the photos of Jake bringing Natalie flowers when they had lunch, I believe, at the Spotted Pig, this was in 2006, and around this same time, the pictures of them walking on the beach at the McBongo party with the infamous photoshopped picture of Jake on the balcony.
But only in HW would this add up to being an "ex". I see Jake's people are still desperate to play the straight card.
Ahhhh yes, the flowers pic. Okay, I remember that one now.
I know, all of a sudden they're peddling this "ex" thing. So laughable.
Did we have any coffee pics? Uh....no.
Was there a piggyback ride anywhere in there? Uh.........no.
Was there any shopping? Again........no.
So I don't know how they can call it a romance by Jake standards.
lol
Hey, I am discovering the awesomeness of DVR'ing !!!!
I was supposed to DVR "Wipeout" on ABC for my sister the other night and I didn't see the text until it was halfway over. OOPS!
But I started recording it anyway and said 'well, sorry I didn't see your message until 1/2 way through so part of the show is going to be missing'. But tonight we discover that the DVR recorded the entire show!! Isn't that cool? Boy, I love this DVR thing. That's awesome.
Great Spotlight today, and much needed.
I wanted to wait to comment about the shootings in AZ out of respect to the families and until more information comes out, but I think it's ridiculous to take a comment a public figure says, or anyone says, and say that it encourages someone to kill. I'm tired of hearing that individuals take no responsibility for their own actions. You can't censor everything someone may say, and there's no accounting for how someone who may be unbalanced is going to interpret something, or even if that's what caused this tragedy. I think our country would be better served if we tightened up on gun controls laws, especially in states like AZ where it is still legal to carry a concealed weapon. No, it won't eliminate these types of tragedies entirely, but it will make it more difficult to get a weapon.
Well, I know I took my comment down after reading an excellent editorial on this tragedy on Cnn.com. It was really good.
I'm not going to really say any more about it because I'm just not informed on political matters.
But most importantly right now, it's just a time I think to offer thoughts and/or prayers for the victims of this awful tragedy. People lost spouses, a child, a grandchild, friend, etc.
I guess the 9 year old girl was the granddaughter of Dallas Green, who used to be a manager in the major leagues. She had been invited to the event by a neighbor. The neighbor was shot multiple times but is still alive.
What a senseless crime.
Yep the little girl who was killed was the Granddaughter of Dallas Green. Dallas Green was the manager of the Phillies when they won their first World Series in 1980. I heard Dallas Green's son the father of the little girl being interviewed on CNN tonight and he couldn't speak without crying. I find it hard to belive that when things happen like this that these people are able to function let alone be interviewed on national TV. I wish the news people would just leave them alone.
The Arizona shooting is so sad. Obviously, the shooter was deranged. From what I have read, his "politics" and grievances make no sense at all. All over the map. The guy was nuts.
I do wish we had tighter gun control standards. I'd love to see longer waiting periods, deeper background checks, etc. For example, how did this guy pass the FBI background check for a gun in November when his school had banned him from the premises until he had a mental eval because he was considered a danger? The process needs more cross-checking.
Natalie is not an ex beard. Rubbish. They were just friends. He probably brought her flowers for her birthday or something.
I would love to know what Natalie's blind vice is, though.
The little girl's dad is a scout for the LA Dodgers. Dodger owner Frank McCourt made a statement earlier about the tragedy and condolences to the family.
my mom is a cancer survivor, so I am always looking for ways to help others with this awful disease.
about 2 hours ago via Twitter for BlackBerry®
There's no such thing as a cancer survivor...unfortunately. If you have cancer and have survived, it's probably in remission or it's dormant. And you may live for quite awhile but rest assured, that evil, insidious disease will come back someday maybe not today but it will, to wreak its final havoc.
I know this because my father died of bladder cancer in mid-October after being diagnosed with it 10 years and we thought for long while he had licked it too.
With Austin's comment up there, I forgot about his mom's direct experience. So both he and Jake have been touched by the big C. Man, it is rare, though, when someone hasn't known someone else who has it as that disease is just everywhere.
But Austin knows. He knows that fear you get inside as soon as you hear. You never forget it.
Incredible human stories continue to come out after the Arizona tragedy. One of Giffords' interns immediately tended to her after she was shot. This is incredible, from CNN.com's Ted Rowlands and Jessica Yellin:
First, Daniel Hernandez heard the shots ring out. Then, he heard someone yell, "Gun!"
Moments later, he was at Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' side. Less than a week after the 20-year-old intern started working for the congresswoman, he was using his bare hands to stop blood gushing from where a bullet had entered her head.
Hernandez, who trained as a certified nursing assistant, said he lifted Giffords' head to make it easier for her to breathe, then applied pressure to her wound.
"She was alert and conscious, but she wasn't able to speak, so the way she was communicating was by grabbing my hand and squeezing," Hernandez said.
cont. next comment
Story cont.:
Employees from the nearby Safeway supermarket brought out clean smocks from the meat department to cover Giffords' wound until paramedics arrived, he said.
"My main thing was just to keep her as alert as possible and just keep trying to interact with her. ... The entire time I was with the congresswoman, she was still responding," Hernandez said. "She was obviously in a lot of pain, so I let her know to squeeze my hand as hard as she needed to."
After the ambulance arrived, Hernandez rode with her to the hospital.
As details emerged about the shooting and its aftermath, praise poured in for Hernandez's role.
"I just really think he's one of the heroes here, because I think it's possible that his swift thinking and his training is what saved her life," Arizona Rep. Steve Farley said.
But Hernandez said it was Giffords who deserved recognition.
"People have been referring to me as a hero. I don't think that I am. I think the people who are heroes are people like Gabby, who have dedicated their lives to public service," he said. "It just makes me happy to know that I could help her in any way that I could."
20 years old. Incredible alone that he's already a physician's assistant - good grief! There's a lot of schooling that has to go into being a phy. asst. That kid must be very, very smart. And I like the way he calls her Gabby.
What a quick thinker. What loving, compassionate acts by the Safeway workers, scrambling to get those clean aprons.
It's heartwarming, isn't it? Human beings can be and the majority are so good inside. There are alot of good, good people out there.
These are the kinds of stories we need to hear after senseless tragedies. They help restore our faith in humankind and they build us back up.
Oh well PG looks like football season is over for us.
Good luck Jets and Pats.
Won't be long pitchers and catchers. Can't wait.
Dear Ted:
Happy New Year! My puppy and I missed your daily Bitch-Backs over the holiday, but we came up with a bunch of questions for you during that time. First, has Priscilla Desert ever met Shafterella Shoshstein? Second, does LeAnn Rimes have a Blind Vice? And third, is Wilby Whiskers old enough to legally vote?
—M+S
Dear Wham-Bam:
Let's not get greedy, I'll answer two. Yes, Priscilla and Shafterella have met (that doesn't say much, for what it's worth), and LeAnn Rimes does all her
Vicey stuff out in the open.
Dear Ted:
Would an actor who has a beard ever "cheat" on that beard with another potential beard just to get the scandalous press?
—XOXO
Dear Beard-olotics:
Sure! And often.
Dear Ted:
I feel kind of sorry for Jake Gyllenhaal. It seems that no matter what he does from here on in it will somehow always be tied to his relationship with Reese Witherspoon. That is one very shrewd woman...whom I wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley. Do you think he has learned his lesson and will start dating less famous women, or would that defeat the whole purpose of being in a relationship to being with him?
—Amanda F., NYC
Dear Clean Break:
Jake knew what he was getting into with Reese, just not how it was going to end. I greatly think that will dictate how he goes from here. I would hope he would follow his heart, not what people are telling him (whether that's a famous significant other or not).
Bitch Back
I will say this - Reese looks truly happy. That's not a fake job. I'm happy for her. Hey, whenever someone finds someone else they love to be with, they love, have fun with - it's great. I hope she can build a life with that guy for herself & the kids. You never know - people can change.
I don't know what that was all about doing the Lakers photo op - like she cares about B-Ball? But she has never looked better for several years. She looks her age now and how telling is it that during the entirety of Reeke, she looked miserable and old. That right there should tell anyone how fake Reeke was.
And why does Ted still bring up Ice Maiden in one of his BB's the other day? I mean, Jake should in all likelihood be done with her, right? So why does he refer to "the ghost of Reese"???
What does Reese still have to do with Jake? Did Jake have to fulfill something in their contract? Is that why he did Jaylor? To fulfill a stipulation in his contract with Reese?
I'm sorry to hear about your dad, Cancer Survivor. It is always a fear, isn't it - that it's going to come back.
But I don't know, I think one has to be optimistic. I tell you what, whenever one gets a clean scan, you have to be happy. You should be. For all the misery a patient goes through with the chemo and radiation, my gosh, take that good news and feel good about it.
I would never say something like that to Austin, to live in fear and dread. He deserves to feel good about his mom beating her disease. We're all going to go some time, some way or another.
Well, I am at home. I've got some battling to do, I think about how to go about getting permission to sit this snowstorm out due to my broken leg. So sorry but you all will probably see a lot of yak from me in the next several days.
lol
I challenge you to a snowball fight http://twitpic.com/3otjxb
22 minutes ago via Twitpic
Yeah, Tom, football is certainly over for the Chiefs. 30-7. Ouch.
@1:28 AM I'm sorry you lost your Dad. It's true that some cancers do return even after the five-year "all clear" mark, but it is also true that most don't after that point.
So yes, there is such a thing as a "cancer survivor," and while I completely empathize with your personal situation with your father, it is not helpful to project that experience onto others' experiences.
Here's to surviving cancer!
(whether that's a famous significant other or not).
What does that mean in the context of Ted's answer?
I agree PG, Reese is looking genuinely happy and good. She's still hung up on getting attention, but I do think Toth is the real deal.
She does, Destiny. You can't fake that kind of happiness. It still stinks the way she left Jake hanging, though, but that's water under the bridge now.
Let me say that this pondering over what does Reese have to do with Jake still a year after "break-up" was first pointed out to me by another via Alexander Graham Bell and may have been brought up on the blog by someone else as well. It certainly was not my original idea or theory and I may have even been skeptical at first or not "grasped" what was being said.
But Ted seems to have hinted at the ghost of Reese several times now and so this is what makes me think that this speculation about Reeke's contract bears repeating.
So anyway, not to misrepresent that I could possibly come up with that theory.
Boy, the snow is sure accumulating out there!!
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